THE MENTION of Little India anywhere around the world would conjure up images of mesmerising colours, Bollywood-style themes, exotic spices, jasmine garlands, spicy food, etc. While it may differ from city to city in terms of composition on type of Indian ethnicity (North, South, etc), it generally does not wander from the Indian culture being its focal point. Read here for a list of Little Indias around the globe.

Little India in many parts of the world has been a result of efforts by immigrant Indian communities to reconstruct a space where the diaspora could reincorporate their collective past and shared values. Though it may contain the major facets of Indian culture as mentioned above, most locations, have over time, assimilated certain local culture attributes as well. For instance, the Little India in Singapore houses several religious institutions from various religions like Foochow Methodist Church, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, etc.

The Little India in Penang does not vary from its counterparts in terms of its splendid colours, good food and the ubiquitous Bollywood themes. The area, which lies within Jalan Pasar, Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh Queen at George Town, had been set up by the traders and merchants from many parts on India. Spice and onion were the featured trades, prominently sold during the 1940s and 1950s. The streets used to be lined with rows and rows of betel nuts and spices laid out to dry in the sun (Penang Vacations). Read here for more on the area’s history.

Today, Little India in Penang has evolved into a vibrant section of the city where gold, cloth, cooking ware, religious artefacts, clothes and fashion accessories, cultural mementos, etc, are traded quite extensively.

Related links

• Deities at Sri Mariamman Temple (Places of interest, iGT Photos)
• Thaipusam 2009 (Events, iGT Video) 

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